Well it depends on the divide you are coming from. In Africa it was initially regarded and known as a union between man and a woman called husband and wife, and to further tie the union, it extended to the inlaws who are also seen as family. In Africa, we also regard an inlaw as simblings or family. However, all these have changed. The union is tearing apart for different reasons and that is why people are now confused how to regard marriage.

The truth to your question is that people now contract a union in form of marriage because of certain reasons to survive in the system or country they find themselves. Marriage is suppose to be a union based on the intent of what it was meant for, procreation in the name of having a family but this have been changed. Change is constant and modernity keeps operating on the influence of change.